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Don’t be in a hurry. Slow down. Take the time to think about it. Write out the answers to the questions. Spend some time praying! Make a list of things you want to pray about today and pray through them. This is one of the ways we honestly seek Jesus. Give it your best! See what happens!
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Matthew 18:1–10
- What does Jesus teach about true greatness in the kingdom of heaven?
- Why does Jesus place such high value on humility and childlike faith?
- How can you grow in humility and remove anything that might cause you or others to stumble?
Matthew 18:1–10 (NLT)
The Greatest in the Kingdom
1 About that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who is greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven?”
2 Jesus called a little child to him and put the child among them. 3 Then he said, “I tell you the truth, unless you turn from your sins and become like little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven. 4 So anyone who becomes as humble as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven.
5 “And anyone who welcomes a little child like this on my behalf[fn] is welcoming me. 6 But if you cause one of these little ones who trusts in me to fall into sin, it would be better for you to have a large millstone tied around your neck and be drowned in the depths of the sea.
7 “What sorrow awaits the world, because it tempts people to sin. Temptations are inevitable, but what sorrow awaits the person who does the tempting. 8 So if your hand or foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It’s better to enter eternal life with only one hand or one foot than to be thrown into eternal fire with both of your hands and feet. 9 And if your eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It’s better to enter eternal life with only one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into the fire of hell.[fn]
10 “Beware that you don’t look down on any of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels are always in the presence of my heavenly Father.[fn]
- What does the parable of the lost sheep reveal about God’s heart for those who wander?
- Why does Jesus rejoice when one lost person is found?
- How can you reflect God’s love by caring for someone who has drifted from Him?
Matthew 18:15–20
- What instructions does Jesus give for restoring a believer caught in sin?
- Why is restoration an important part of life in the church?
- How can you pursue truth, grace, and reconciliation in your relationships?
Matthew 18:15–20 (NLT)
Correcting Another Believer
15 “If another believer[fn] sins against you,[fn] go privately and point out the offense. If the other person listens and confesses it, you have won that person back. 16 But if you are unsuccessful, take one or two others with you and go back again, so that everything you say may be confirmed by two or three witnesses. 17 If the person still refuses to listen, take your case to the church. Then if he or she won’t accept the church’s decision, treat that person as a pagan or a corrupt tax collector.
18 “I tell you the truth, whatever you forbid[fn] on earth will be forbidden in heaven, and whatever you permit[fn] on earth will be permitted in heaven.
19 “I also tell you this: If two of you agree here on earth concerning anything you ask, my Father in heaven will do it for you. 20 For where two or three gather together as my followers,[fn] I am there among them.”
Matthew 18:21–35
- Why does Jesus teach that His followers must forgive without limit?
- What does the parable of the unforgiving servant reveal about God’s mercy toward us?
- Is there someone you need to forgive as Christ has forgiven you?
Matthew 18:21–35 (NLT)
Parable of the Unforgiving Debtor
21 Then Peter came to him and asked, “Lord, how often should I forgive someone[fn] who sins against me? Seven times?”
22 “No, not seven times,” Jesus replied, “but seventy times seven![fn]
23 “Therefore, the Kingdom of Heaven can be compared to a king who decided to bring his accounts up to date with servants who had borrowed money from him. 24 In the process, one of his debtors was brought in who owed him millions of dollars.[fn] 25 He couldn’t pay, so his master ordered that he be sold—along with his wife, his children, and everything he owned—to pay the debt.
26 “But the man fell down before his master and begged him, ‘Please, be patient with me, and I will pay it all.’ 27 Then his master was filled with pity for him, and he released him and forgave his debt.
28 “But when the man left the king, he went to a fellow servant who owed him a few thousand dollars.[fn] He grabbed him by the throat and demanded instant payment.
29 “His fellow servant fell down before him and begged for a little more time. ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay it,’ he pleaded. 30 But his creditor wouldn’t wait. He had the man arrested and put in prison until the debt could be paid in full.
31 “When some of the other servants saw this, they were very upset. They went to the king and told him everything that had happened. 32 Then the king called in the man he had forgiven and said, ‘You evil servant! I forgave you that tremendous debt because you pleaded with me. 33 Shouldn’t you have mercy on your fellow servant, just as I had mercy on you?’ 34 Then the angry king sent the man to prison to be tortured until he had paid his entire debt.
35 “That’s what my heavenly Father will do to you if you refuse to forgive your brothers and sisters[fn] from your heart.”
Luke 15:1–7
- Why does Jesus tell the parable of the lost sheep in response to the Pharisees’ criticism?
- What does this story reveal about God’s joy over one sinner who repents?
- How can you join God’s mission of seeking and welcoming those who are far from Him?
Luke 15:1–7 (NLT)
Parable of the Lost Sheep
1 Tax collectors and other notorious sinners often came to listen to Jesus teach. 2 This made the Pharisees and teachers of religious law complain that he was associating with such sinful people—even eating with them!
3 So Jesus told them this story: 4 “If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them gets lost, what will he do? Won’t he leave the ninety-nine others in the wilderness and go to search for the one that is lost until he finds it? 5 And when he has found it, he will joyfully carry it home on his shoulders. 6 When he arrives, he will call together his friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me because I have found my lost sheep.’ 7 In the same way, there is more joy in heaven over one lost sinner who repents and returns to God than over ninety-nine others who are righteous and haven’t strayed away!
Luke 19:1–10
- What does Zacchaeus’ encounter with Jesus reveal about repentance and salvation?
- How did a genuine encounter with Christ transform Zacchaeus’ life?
- What step of obedience is Jesus calling you to take as you follow Him?
Luke 19:1–10 (NLT)
Jesus and Zacchaeus
1 Jesus entered Jericho and made his way through the town. 2 There was a man there named Zacchaeus. He was the chief tax collector in the region, and he had become very rich. 3 He tried to get a look at Jesus, but he was too short to see over the crowd. 4 So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree beside the road, for Jesus was going to pass that way.
5 When Jesus came by, he looked up at Zacchaeus and called him by name. “Zacchaeus!” he said. “Quick, come down! I must be a guest in your home today.”
6 Zacchaeus quickly climbed down and took Jesus to his house in great excitement and joy. 7 But the people were displeased. “He has gone to be the guest of a notorious sinner,” they grumbled.
8 Meanwhile, Zacchaeus stood before the Lord and said, “I will give half my wealth to the poor, Lord, and if I have cheated people on their taxes, I will give them back four times as much!”
9 Jesus responded, “Salvation has come to this home today, for this man has shown himself to be a true son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of Man[fn] came to seek and save those who are lost.”
Theme for the Week: Healthy people and healthy churches make room because God’s heart has always been for people.
Day 1 – God’s Invitation Is for Everyone
Read: Luke 14:15–21
Jesus tells the story of a great banquet where those who were invited begin making excuses. Rather than giving up, the master sends his servant to invite those no one expected.
Questions
- What excuses tend to keep you from giving Jesus your best time, attention, or obedience?
- What does this passage teach you about God’s heart for people who often feel forgotten or overlooked?
- If Jesus were inviting you to take one step of obedience today, what would it be?
Luke 14:15–21 (NLT)
Parable of the Great Feast
15 Hearing this, a man sitting at the table with Jesus exclaimed, “What a blessing it will be to attend a banquet[fn] in the Kingdom of God!”
16 Jesus replied with this story: “A man prepared a great feast and sent out many invitations. 17 When the banquet was ready, he sent his servant to tell the guests, ‘Come, the banquet is ready.’ 18 But they all began making excuses. One said, ‘I have just bought a field and must inspect it. Please excuse me.’ 19 Another said, ‘I have just bought five pairs of oxen, and I want to try them out. Please excuse me.’ 20 Another said, ‘I just got married, so I can’t come.’
21 “The servant returned and told his master what they had said. His master was furious and said, ‘Go quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and invite the poor, the crippled, the blind, and the lame.’
Day 2 – Make Room for Christ First
Read: Matthew 22:34–40
Jesus reminds us that loving God completely is the greatest commandment, followed closely by loving others.
Questions
- What competes most for first place in your life right now?
- Which of the three relationships (Christ, His Church, or your community) needs the most intentional investment this week?
- What is one practical change you can make this week that demonstrates Jesus has first place in your life?
Matthew 22:34–40 (NLT)
The Most Important Commandment
34 But when the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees with his reply, they met together to question him again. 35 One of them, an expert in religious law, tried to trap him with this question: 36 “Teacher, which is the most important commandment in the law of Moses?”
37 Jesus replied, “‘You must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’[fn] 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’[fn] 40 The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.”
Day 3 – God’s Heart Has Always Been for People
Read: Luke 19:1–10
Jesus seeks out Zacchaeus—a man everyone else had written off—and his life is transformed.
Questions
- What does Jesus’ pursuit of Zacchaeus reveal about how He sees people?
- Is there someone in your life you’ve quietly given up on spiritually?
- How can you intentionally show God’s love to one person this week?
Luke 19:1–10 (NLT)
Jesus and Zacchaeus
1 Jesus entered Jericho and made his way through the town. 2 There was a man there named Zacchaeus. He was the chief tax collector in the region, and he had become very rich. 3 He tried to get a look at Jesus, but he was too short to see over the crowd. 4 So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree beside the road, for Jesus was going to pass that way.
5 When Jesus came by, he looked up at Zacchaeus and called him by name. “Zacchaeus!” he said. “Quick, come down! I must be a guest in your home today.”
6 Zacchaeus quickly climbed down and took Jesus to his house in great excitement and joy. 7 But the people were displeased. “He has gone to be the guest of a notorious sinner,” they grumbled.
8 Meanwhile, Zacchaeus stood before the Lord and said, “I will give half my wealth to the poor, Lord, and if I have cheated people on their taxes, I will give them back four times as much!”
9 Jesus responded, “Salvation has come to this home today, for this man has shown himself to be a true son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of Man[fn] came to seek and save those who are lost.”
Day 4 – Every Believer Has a Role
Read: Ephesians 4:11–16
God equips every believer to strengthen and build His Church.
Questions
- How has God uniquely gifted or wired you to serve others?
- If you’re already serving, how can you serve with greater joy and purpose?
- If you’re not serving, what has held you back?
Who has impacted your faith because they faithfully served behind the scenes?
Ephesians 4:11–16 (NLT)
11 Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. 12 Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. 13 This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ.
14 Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth. 15 Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. 16 He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.
Day 5 – There Is Still Room
Read: Luke 14:22–24
Even after many guests arrive, the servant reports, “There is still room,” and the master sends him out again.
Questions
- Who comes to mind when you hear the words, “There is still room”?
- What keeps you from inviting people to church or talking about your faith?
- Who is one specific person you could begin praying for and invite over the next few weeks?
Luke 14:22–24 (NLT)
22 After the servant had done this, he reported, ‘There is still room for more.’ 23 So his master said, ‘Go out into the country lanes and behind the hedges and urge anyone you find to come, so that the house will be full. 24 For none of those I first invited will get even the smallest taste of my banquet.’”
Day 6 – Making Room Requires Sacrifice
Read: Romans 12:1–13
Paul describes what a life surrendered to God looks like—offering ourselves, using our gifts, and loving others sacrificially.
Questions
- What sacrifice is God asking you to make for the sake of His Kingdom?
- Which spiritual gift or ability could you use more intentionally to bless others?
- What would it look like for your family to “make room” for God’s mission this season?
Romans 12:1–13 (NLT)
A Living Sacrifice to God
1 And so, dear brothers and sisters,[fn] I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him.[fn] 2 Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.
3 Because of the privilege and authority[fn] God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us.[fn] 4 Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, 5 so it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other.
6 In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you. 7 If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. 8 If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.
9 Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. 10 Love each other with genuine affection,[fn] and take delight in honoring each other. 11 Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically.[fn] 12 Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying. 13 When God’s people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality.
Day 7 – Empty Seats Represent Real People
Read: John 4:31–42
Jesus helps His disciples see the people around them as a harvest ready to be gathered.
Questions
- When you look at your neighborhood, workplace, or school, do you mostly see people or problems? Why?
- Who first made room for you to hear about Jesus, and how has that changed your life?
- Ask God to place one name on your heart today. What is one practical step you can take this week to love, encourage, or invite that person?
John 4:31–42 (NLT)
31 Meanwhile, the disciples were urging Jesus, “Rabbi, eat something.”
32 But Jesus replied, “I have a kind of food you know nothing about.”
33 “Did someone bring him food while we were gone?” the disciples asked each other.
34 Then Jesus explained: “My nourishment comes from doing the will of God, who sent me, and from finishing his work. 35 You know the saying, ‘Four months between planting and harvest.’ But I say, wake up and look around. The fields are already ripe[fn] for harvest. 36 The harvesters are paid good wages, and the fruit they harvest is people brought to eternal life. What joy awaits both the planter and the harvester alike! 37 You know the saying, ‘One plants and another harvests.’ And it’s true. 38 I sent you to harvest where you didn’t plant; others had already done the work, and now you will get to gather the harvest.”
Many Samaritans Believe
39 Many Samaritans from the village believed in Jesus because the woman had said, “He told me everything I ever did!” 40 When they came out to see him, they begged him to stay in their village. So he stayed for two days, 41 long enough for many more to hear his message and believe. 42 Then they said to the woman, “Now we believe, not just because of what you told us, but because we have heard him ourselves. Now we know that he is indeed the Savior of the world.”
At the end of the week, spend a few minutes praying through these three questions:
- How did I intentionally invest in my relationship with Christ this week?
- How did I strengthen or serve Christ’s Church this week?
- How did I intentionally love or reach someone in my community who needs Jesus?
Then ask God to give you one name—one person He wants you to make room for. Pray for them every day, look for opportunities to encourage them, and invite them to join you at church. Healthy churches grow because ordinary believers faithfully make room for people God loves.